ARC REVIEW: Stripped by Tara Wyatt

Happily Ever After Book Nerd Favorite

My Review

Brooke Simmons has the worst luck with men and finding out her new boyfriend is actually married is just another mistake in a long line of them. Consoling herself at a bar, Brooke is intrigued by the sexy man a few seats down. Detective Sawyer Matthews is still struggling with the murder of his partner and the fact that the killer is still out there. A wild night with a stranger is just what he needs to forget things for a bit. But everything falls apart when Sawyer is assigned a new partner, none other than his one night stand, Detective Brooke Simmons.

From the very start, Stripped was a fantastic read and I loved just about every moment of it. Tara Wyatt is a master when it comes to steamy chemistry and off the charts sexiness! Brooke has wanted to be a member of the elite police division, HEAT, for a long time and she won’t let anything stand in her way, even Sawyer. I was on board with Brooke from the very beginning; she was a fantastic heroine who’s outspoken, dedicated, and tough. Of course, this determination also means that Brooke is stubborn and she has a few moments where she let’s fear get in the way of finding happiness.

“I don’t know if I believe in fate, but I sure as fuck believe in us.”

As a counterpoint to Brooke’s enthusiasm and excitement to be on the team is the more jaded and dented Sawyer who hasn’t recovered from his partner’s death. Ryan was his best friend and Sawyer wants justice by taking down the local cartel leader, Hernandez, who Sawyer knows — but can’t prove — killed Ryan. Sawyer was sexy and growly but he also lets his twisted emotions set him on the wrong foot with Brooke. Sawyer doesn’t want her as a partner because he can’t stop thinking about her, so he tries to get her transferred off of HEAT by implying she’s not suited for the job. I wasn’t crazy about Sawyer blaming Brooke for his attraction and inability to control himself and I felt that Brooke forgave Sawyer too fast. She comes to understand that he’s grieving Ryan and that grief can make a person do stupid things but I guess I’m not as forgiving.

To complicate matters even more, Brooke and Sawyer are assigned to investigate a male strip club to find which dancer is selling drugs that may connect back to Hernandez. Now here’s where you talk about steamy; my Kindle practically caught on fire in my hands because this book was so sexy. I loved that grumpy Sawyer had this secret, sexy-stripper side to him and it acts as the catalyst that brings Brooke and Sawyer back together. She can’t resist him even when she knows she’s risking her job by getting involved with her partner. Rounding out the cast, are the other members of the HEAT team, Jack and Amelia and I can’t wait to get more about them, as well as Brooke’s detective friend. I am 100% on board for this series!

ARC provided by the author for honest review

5 stars – loved it!

Reader Safety

Hero dances with/on other women as a part of the undercover mission (on page)

References to drug use and abuse (on page)

Torture scene (on page)

Book Details

Detective Sawyer Matthews isn’t just having a bad day—he’s having the worst day. His hunt for the criminal who killed his team member has stalled and now… he’s got to play nice with his new, totally unwanted partner. It’s not that she isn’t qualified, or that he doesn’t like her—it’s because he knows what she looks like naked. So very, very naked.

Brooke Simmons finally landed her dream job working for H.E.A.T, an elite undercover detective squad, and she’s not giving up simply because she had a one-night-stand with her sullen—but undeniably sexy—new partner. They’ll just have to keep it professional. Easier said than done, considering their first case requires Sawyer to infiltrate a drug cartel operating out of a male strip show. Watching him do his best Magic Mike impression every night isn’t just hot—it’s torture.

Sawyer doesn’t need any distractions, yet his attraction to Brooke is explosive and he can’t resist going for round two. Or three. Or four. But as their investigation progresses and danger mounts, they’ll have to put their jobs, hearts, and lives on the line to fight… for each other, for survival, and for justice.